Govindaraja Swamy Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Tirupati International Airport (TIR) is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Tirupati Railway Station (TPTY) is the nearest railway station.

Why devotees come here

Govindaraja Swamy Temple stands in the heart of Tirupati city, Tirupati district, Andhra Pradesh. It is dedicated to Vishnu, worshipped as Govindaraja. The Tirupati city is built around this temple.

Govindaraja Swamy Temple is an ancient Hindu Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Vishnu. The deity lies in a reclining yoga nidra pose, facing east. Before Govindaraja was consecrated as the presiding deity, another form of Vishnu, Parthasarathy, held that place. Legend says the utsava murti, the processional deity, was brought here from the Chidambaram temple for safekeeping during invasions there.

The temple was built in the 12th century and consecrated in 1130 AD by Ramanuja, according to the Vaikhanasa tradition. Some structures inside the complex belong to the 9th and 10th centuries. A 50 m high, seven-storied Rajagopuram on the east entrance was built by Matla Anantaraja, a local chieftain. Its passage walls carry Ramayana scenes and carvings of Anantaraja and his three wives.

Two enclosures stand one behind the other, to the west of the Rajagopuram. The inner one holds the main shrine, with Krishna and Andal. The complex is one of the largest temple complexes in Andhra Pradesh.

Tips for your visit

• The temple closes from 12:30 PM to 1:15 PM and from 4:45 PM to 6:00 PM, so plan your darshan around these breaks.
• Look up at the 50 m Rajagopuram on the east entrance, whose passage walls carry Ramayana scenes and carvings of Matla Anantaraja and his three wives.
• Two enclosures stand one behind the other west of the Rajagopuram, and the inner one holds the main shrine with Krishna and Andal.

Questions people ask